Average weekly earnings provide useful information on the cost of labour in the construction industry. This complements the information provided in the previous section on the cost of materials in the industry.

In May 2001 the average weekly earnings of all employees in the construction industry stood at $707, 7% higher than the all industries average ($663) (table 20.21).

Average weekly earnings for wage and salary earners increased steadily in the construction industry in the period 1993 to 1999, but have fallen in the last two years, in contrast to the continued growth of average weekly earnings for all industries combined. This could be attributed to compositional changes in the industry's employment patterns and to the volativity in the industry which coincided with the transition to The New Tax System.